18 May 2006 Edition

Forming an Executive is the real political issue

Last Tuesday's proceedings at Stormont were an irrelevant side-show to the
real political business that needs to be addressed, which is the
establishment of a fully functioning Executive and the return of the
all-Ireland architecture of the Good Friday Agreement.

There is no point in public representatives sitting in the Stormont chamber
debating issues over which they have no power. Sinn Féin has refused to
participate in a pantomime, designed to obscure political reality and which
is a disservice to the electorate.

The capitulation of the SDLP on this issue would be remarkable were it not
par for the course. That party's spokespersons have said they would not
participate in a sham assembly without powers but they did just that at the
very first opportunity. The SDLP move can only serve to provide succour to
the reactionary instincts of the DUP and reduce the political pressure for
that party to do real political business in terms of forming an Executive.

Debates in the Hain assembly will not change how British direct rule
ministers make decisions affecting people's lives in the Six Counties. The
disastrous state of the economy there is one of the key issues that a real
Assembly and Executive must urgently address.

But if anything throws into sharp focus the need for political progress it
is the brutal murder of Michael McIlveen. The death of the Ballymena
teenager is a direct result of a poisonous climate of sectarianism. This is
something which must be faced up to by all those with political
responsibility. To do so means showing real political leadership,
demonstrating by example and confronting deep-seated prejudices within
society. A failure by political leaders to agree to work with each other at
a political level will send a green light to the bigots, perpetuate
sectarianism and leave open the possibility of further tragedies.

Ordinary people want to see the political institutions up and running. They
want issues such as the economy, agriculture, education and water charges
dealt with by people who understand local conditions.

Furthermore there is a belief that agreement can be reached at a political
level between nationalism and unionism in relation to forming an Executive.
With a political landscape transformed from that of just a few years ago,
there is hope and there is optimism.

As the leading nationalist party in the Six Counties and one which is
growing rapidly in the 26 Counties, Sinn Féin has a clear political project.
It is looking to the future and seeks to do business with the
representatives of unionism in the interests of all our people from whatever
political tradition they come. The question now is whether the DUP has the
courage and the capacity to allow the hopes of the community it represents
to be realised.

An Phoblacht Magazine

AN PHOBLACHT MAGAZINE:

The first edition of this new magazine will feature a 10 page special on the life and legacy of our leader Martin McGuinness to mark the first anniversary of his untimely passing.

It will include a personal reminiscence by Gerry Adams and contributions from the McGuinness family.

There will also be an exclusive interview with our new Uachtarán Mary Lou McDonald.